Montclair BOE will spend $1 million to upgrade classroom technology

Above, Brian Fleischer, the Montclair School District's chief operating officer, describes some of the spending for technology included in the Board of Education's budget proposals for the 2014-2015 school year. Below, Montclair Education Association President Gayl Shepard expresses concern about possible staff reductions.

The Montclair Board of Education will spend upwards of $1 million to upgrade technology in its classrooms.

Brian Fleischer, the Montclair School District's chief operating officer, said the wide-ranging improvements would modernize classrooms particularly in Montclair High School, and would prepare the district's 11 schools for the new Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments which are slated to begin in the 2014-15 school year.

"We need to prepare our students with the technology skills they'll need to compete," Fleischer told the board at its public meeting Monday night. "And we need to take advantage of the digital learning tools available to enrich instruction in math, science, social studies, English, art and music."

Fleischer told The Montclair Times that the improvements would include upgrading the district's Wi-Fi connectivity, expanding its bandwidth capabilities, as well as purchasing or leasing either laptops or iPads and software applications.

"Our internet speeds are inadequate at every one of our schools, and our Wi-Fi coverage is similarly inadequate," Fleischer explained. "Too many of the computers being used by our faculty and by our students are obsolete and are running on operating systems that are also obsolete."

According to Fleischer, work on the upgrades is expected to begin within the next two months and the process will be aided by the arrival of the district's newly hired technology director.

Fleischer said district has a sense of urgency because the state-mandated PARCC assessments will require students to take the tests online.

Maia Davis, a member of the Montclair Cares About Schools group, urged board members to move cautiously on the purchase of new computers, and she asked the board to consider conducting a community-wide dialogue on the district's technology needs.

But Board of Education Vice President Shelly Lombard said the upgrades are long overdue.

"We would be doing our kids a vast disservice if we did not make these improvements," Lombard said.

The renovations are part of nearly $2.9 million in capital improvements slated to take place over the next year.

Fleischer said they include security upgrades at district schools along with window, roof, flooring, air conditioning and other structural repairs. Under the plan, the cafeteria at Montclair High School would also get a makeover.

The state Department of Education has approved funding for up to 40 percent of the cost of some the repairs, with the remaining funding to come from the district's capital budget.

The district is also proposing a $113 million operating budget to fund the operations of its public schools which serve more than 6,800 kindergarten through 12th grade students.

Schools Superintendent Penny MacCormack said the district has drafted three budget options, including a plan that calls for a four percent increase in the school portion of township property taxes.

That plan would cost the average residential homeowner, with a dwelling assessed at $505,495, an additional $171.36 a year or $14.28 per month.

MacCormack said the plan will allow the district to keep its current staffing levels and, with an increase of more than $130,000 in state aid announced last week, add new three elementary school world language teachers.

Meanwhile, MacCormack assured the members of the Montclair Education Association that the budget contains "no reductions in any contracted staff."

The assurance came after MEA President Gayle Shepard asked MacCormack to clarify a budget line item that showed a reduction in funding for teacher aides.

Board of Education President Robin Kulwin said the seven-member board will meet again this Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. in the George Inness Annex of Montclair High School to vote to approve a tentative budget proposal.

"Thursday will be decision day for the board," Kulwin said. "Right now we're still looking at three budget options.